Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis has a complete tear of his triceps and is out for the rest of NFL season, coach John Harbaugh announced Monday afternoon.

Lewis joins cornerback Lardarius Webb (torn ACL) as being lost from the roster. Both players were hurt in Sunday's 31-29 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

"Ray in the locker room afterward, we didn't know (the extent of the injury) but he was worried about it," Harbaugh told reporters Monday. "He said some things about his faith. He said some things that I'll never forget."

The Ravens will turn to fourth-year linebacker Dannell Ellerbe to help fill the void left by Lewis, a 13-time Pro Bowl selection. At 37, though healthy and slimmer, Lewis wasn't the same player going upfield against the run and blitzing the pocket.

What they give up in experience and vocal leadership in Lewis, Ellerbe can compensate by providing more athleticism.

Lewis and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (Achilles') are important veteran presences, along with safety Ed Reed. But the well-coached Ravens will have confidence that youngsters such as Ellerbe and Jimmy Smith (Webb's replacement) can rise up in their scheme.

"I feel great about our guys' chances to fill in," Harbaugh told reporters. "That's something we've been able to do in the past. Obviously, that's going to define what we're going to be able to accomplish this year. That's something we're going to need to do, from a leadership standpoint and from a playing standpoint. Our chances of doing it? I won't put odds on it. That's just something that we're going to have to get done."

The good news is the Ravens have the offense and special teams to take plenty of pressure off the defense while it's sorting out issues vs. the run and in coverage. In years past with Lewis, there would be a great burden on the defense, but now it can survive as more of a complementary pass-rushing unit for a high-scoring offense.

"For our offense to carry some of that burden, and for our special teams to carry some of that burden, is a great thing," Harbaugh told reporters. "I'm quite sure our defense is going to do the same during the course of the season. I've got a lot of confidence in those guys. We're going to play really good defense as the year goes on."

Losing Webb and Lewis are still significant blows to the defense, but their absence isn't a total back-breaker for a well-rounded 5-1 Baltimore team that has its eyes on the Super Bowl. The Ravens will get a good early test with their adjusted defense in Houston in Week 7.